Pages

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Mmmm, Donuts. I don't eat donuts very often, but I know which ones I like.

These ones, I like :D

The recipe is pretty straight-forward and quite simple to make. As always, be sure to read the recipe through and have your ingredients prepped.

Mine were not quite "light-as-air" as I'd hoped, but it could've been my own fault. I will definitely make these again and also try out the other 149 recipes :D

Light-as-Air Glazed Donuts

150 Best Donut Recipes, Fried or Baked

George Geary

1 cup + 1Tblsp whole milk, warmed to 110F {43C}

2 pkgs {1/4oz//8g} quicke-rising {instant} yeast

3 egg whites

3 Tblsp oil

2 tsp vanilla

3 cups all-purpose flour, divided {approx}

3/4 cup rice flour

1+1/2 Tblsp sugar

1 tsp salt

oil for frying

2 cups icing sugar + water for glaze

1. In mixer bowl, sprinkle yeast over milk and stir with a fork. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.

2. Attach bowl to mixer fitted with paddle attachment and add egg whites, oil, vanilla, 1 cup of flour, rice flour, sugar and salt to the yeast mixture. Let stand in bowl for 10 minutes. On low speed, mix just until blended, then gradually add just enough of the remaining flour until the dough starts to pull away from the sides of bowl. Increase speed to medium and beat for 1 minute.

3. Transfer dough to a large oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in volume, about 30 minutes.

4. On a floured work surface, roll out dough to slightly thicker than 1/4 inch. If dough is tacky, dust with additional flour. Cut dough with cutter into 18 doughnuts, re-rolling scraps as necessary. Place at least 1 inch apart on parchment lined baking sheets. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise for 20 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, in a large, deep pot or deep fryer, heat about 4 inches of oil over medium heat until the temperature registers 360F. Deep-fry 3-4 donuts at a time in hot oil turning once with wooden chopsticks, until golden brown, about 15 seconds per side. Using a slotted metal spatula, transfer to paper towels to absorb excess oil. Fry remaining donuts, adjusting heat as necessary between batches to maintain oil temperature.

6. Make your glaze by adding enough water to the icing sugar to create a thin consistency. Glaze donuts while still warm, and place on rack to cool.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

For some reason, I had my heart set on making No-Bakes this week. The first time I had made them was for college lunch and I remember having tray full stacked on the racks. Making treats was one of my favourite things to do in the kitchen.

I searched in at least 10 of my cookbooks for this classic treat, when finally I came across this one in one of my Company's Coming books. I'll admit, I was ready to just use a recipe online! The only thing is, my memory is either getting really bad, or the recipe at college is one-of-a-kind; the recipe doesn't jive with what's in my head :P

I definitely remember putting PB in the mixture though, so I put some Nutella in mine--I'm out of PB.

The cookies are very moist with a hint of Nutella. I love the flavour of the oats, and since I didn't put very much sugar, these cookies have a dark chocolate taste to them.

Excellent for Valentine's Day...you can indulge without getting sick of chocolate {although, I don't who would! :P}

Monday, February 10, 2014

The first year the M parents went to Fairhaven for Empowered Youth, we eased the absence by the anticipation of a sleepover at the end of the week. And, it was just natural we do it the next year too.

I mean, who doesn't love sleepovers?!

The first year, I told them they could each have a friend over...our second year we extended the invitation to the k4-3rd grade class.

We started right after school on Thursday and my partner in crime, MissO, helped them get their school stuff situated as soon as we got to the house. There was so much stuff! Backpacks, coats, boots/shoes, lunch bags, sleepover stuff...it was quite chaotic till everything got settled :D

School was over at 4, so it wasn't too long till dinner time. I don't remember what we had for supper, but we made s'mores in the oven as a {messy} treat. The kids loved'em!

Breakfast was always pancakes. Mmmm...

Anyway, after they were all sugared up, we went to the living room and made our "beds".

Everyone had his or her own spot and once everyone was comfy in pj's with stuffies by their sides, we popped in a movie. Invariably, more than one child would be snoozing before the credits rolled :D

One year we had the fireplace going and it was so cozy. The tangle of bodies {'cause you KNOW kids don't stay in one place!!} in blissful slumber with the stars twinkling outside and the logs crackling and popping in the fireplace.

The flash was really bright because I didn't want to turn lights on and wake Baby boo! Superman used his superpowers to keep his eyes open :P

They had so much fun and it was a highlight in our Novembers.

Yay! Snoring through the pops of flash as I took some pictures.

We had so many laughs because these children are hilarious. The things that come out of their mouths sometimes! Future storytellers, I tell ya :)

Aren't these girls cute! The next morning they played until their parents came to get them. They would get up way too early though :P What is it with kids and waking up at the crack of dawn?!...or, maybe it was already 9:00 ;)

Princess Friends

What fun memories. What crazy, chaotic times. But, it was a good chaos. The one where you just sit back and listen in contentment as the children make up stories, play dress up, laugh, run around and just live. The innocence and childhood joy. I'm so thankful to have been apart of their lives, even for the short time I was there. I'm thankful for the crazy memories we all created and the fun times we had.

*********************************

Now, I just have to convince the Mama's of these cuties to let me have'em for a day!

Mama's night out?

Date night? {Valentine's Day is this Friday :}

I would take them even if their Moms decided to do nothing but stay home in their pj's!

Thursday, February 6, 2014

This is my absolute, favourite chocolate chip cookie recipe. I've tried many, and although I'm up to making ones that are bragged on...I will always run back to this recipe. They are perfect.

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

America's Test Kitchen: Family Cookbook

3+1/3 cups flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

16 tblsp {2 sticks} unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1+1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 large eggs

2 large egg yolks

1 tblsp vanilla

2 cups chocolate chips {12 oz bag}

1. Heat the oven to 325. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl.

2. Beat the butter and sugars on medium speed until combined, 1-2 minutes. Beat in the eggs, egg yolks, and vanilla, until combined.

3. Reduce mixer speed to low and mix in the flour mixture until combined. Mix in the chocolate chips until incorporated.

4. Using a small cookie scoop, form dough and place on baking sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes {rotate sheet halfway through baking time}, or until the edges are golden brown. Let cool on baking sheets for 1 minute and then transfer to wire cooling racks.

About Me

Hello! I'm Elsa, and I'm glad you decided to visit my corner of the web :) I love baking, and I post recipes I've tried from my cookbooks, or from Pinterest {love that site!}. I also love photography and enjoy taking photos of friends/family/clients and editing them. And, sometimes, I ramble about my life :) Thanks for stopping by!